Safety device for sawing machines and the like



A ril 13,1926. 1,580,842

C. L. MATTISON SAFETY DEVICE FOR SAWING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 26, 1924 6011/ j. J lailisom m 4% Patented Apr. 13, was.

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CARL LAVJRENCE MATTISON,.bF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MATTISON MA- CHINE VIOBKS, OF. ROCKFORQ'ILLZNGIS, A CORPORATION'OF ILLINOIS.'

SAFETY nnvronronsawms MAcHINnsANn THE LIKE.

- Application filed December 2'6, 1934. s r al No. 758,043.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, CARL LAWRENCE MAT- TISON, a citizen of the United States, res1dmg at Rockford, 1n the county oflVnme- I v I l bago and State OLf',Ill1110lS, have invented a certain new and useful Safety Device for Sawing ldachines and the like, of which the following is a specification,

The invention pertains to a combination guard and safety device for a power-actuatedrip-sawing machine or the like, and the object of the invention generally stated is to produce a device associated with the work discl'iarging mechanism for guarding the receiving attendant against injury and for protecting the machine against injury due to the .work or any portion thereofbccoming caught or clogged in the machine as it is being discharged therefrom.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the rear end of a rip-sawing ma chine embodying my invention. 7

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the rear end of the machine, this view being taken on a somewhat smaller scale than Fig. 1. 1 i

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view ofthe portion of the machine shown in Fig. 2.

The machine selected for purposes of illustration comprises a main or base frame 7 constructed'to providea runway 8 in its top for a feed chain 9. This chain comprises in the present instance a series. of blocks 10 linked together and running over a driving sprocket 11 mounted atthe rear end ofthe machine and connected with la suitable source of power. The lower run of the chain in passing from the sprocket wheel 11 passes through an opening 12 in the rear end of. the frame and thence forwardly through the frame for connection with the sawingmeclianism (not shown). y

In use the machine is customarily attended by an operator stationed at the frontend of the machine, who. feeds the work into the 1TltCl1l11G,'aI1Cl also by a person stationed at the rear end of the machine'for receiving the work as it is discharged. Of these two attendants, the one receiving the work is an unskilled workman, usually a boy lacking in experience and discretion, or an elderly man likely to be slower in action and perception. It is desirable therefore to provide means adapted to prevent injury --to such operators or to the machine in the discharge of the Work, and I have provided such a means 1n the form of a housing. en-

closing the discharge end ofthe feed chain and so mounted as to be capable of yielding, in the event that thehand or fingers of the attendant should become caughtbetween the chain and the top plate of the housing, or in the event that the work or some part thereof may in the'operation of being discharged-engage such top'plat-e of the housing or become clogged betweenlit and the chain.

The means herein shown for accomplishing this result comprises a housing 13 open at its forward side, and having opposite side andrear walls shaped to conform to the curvature of the chain passing over the sprocket 'wheel ll. Thus the lower portion of the housing curves downwardly and'forwardly, and the housing as a Whole is mounted for movement relative to the main frame. Herein its lowerend is pivotally mounted as at 15 upon a bracket 16 bolted to the rear end of the machine frame a short distance below the sprocket wheel and the opening 12 through which the chain passes forwardly'to the sawing mechanism. The upper end of the housing13 has. a top wall 17? upon the upper side of which is secured aguard plate 18 which is preferably formed of wood. This plate extend forwardly over the chain just as the latter begins to descend in its passage around the sprocket wheel 11, a slight space being provided between the forward end of the plate 18 and-the chain for clearance purposes. Preferably the for-'1 ,jects; downwardly far enough to strike the forward edgeof'the plate 18, or the work may otherwise become caught between the plate 19 and the feed chain. lVhen this plate, under these circumstances, is held "stationary as is the case with prior art ma chines, such a clogging of'the work necessr i ltates an abrupt stopping of the maehlnet-o.

prevent 'injurythereto'." Alsosit sometimes happens that the receiving attendantwill, in removing work from the mach ne,- place lllS fingers over the forward end olfthe plate 19 charge in such a r 'inner as to cause them to be carried downwardly between the plate and the chain. I therefore provide spring means normally holding the housin in an upright position with its lower forward side engaging a shoulder 20 on the bracket 16 (Fig, 3 The spring means consists in the present instance of a pair of coiled contractile springs 21, one on each side of the housing and having t ieir opposite ends anchored to studs or pins 2 and on the housing and bracket respectively. y

it will thus be seen that if the fingers of the attendant should become caught between the forward end of the platelt) and the feed chain, he can readily dislodge them by pulling rearwardly on the plate causing the housing to swing rearwardly and downwardly against the action of the springs 21; likewise, if the work becomes clogged in the passage of the chain downwardly into the housing 13, the latter will yield to prevent injury to the machine.

Preferably the springs 21 are so arranged with respect to the pivotal connection 15 between the housing and the bracket 16 that the housing may he swung downwardly to carry the pins 22 past center so that the housing will be held by th springs in its open position permitting free access to the rear end of the feed chain and associated parts.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a main frame, work discharge mechanism including a wheel mounted on the frame and a chain ertending horizontally along the top of the frame, thence downwardly over the wheel and forward y therefrom, a guard pivotally sup,- ported on the f ame and adapted to enclose said wheel and chain passing thereover, the ,iz'ua iul including atog ovcr which the work is normally adapted to slide and beneath which the chain passes around said wheel, and spring n'iea-ns normally holding he guard in operative relation to said chain and wheel but permitting the guard to yield I rearwardly away from the chain.

9,. In a machine of the character described, the combination. of a main frame, work. dismechanism including a wheel mounted on the frame and chain ext-ending horizon-tally along the top of the frame and then downwardly over the wheel, a housing pivotall-y supported on the frame and adapted to enclose said. wheel. and chain passing thereover, the housing further haw ing a top plate over which the work is nor- ,mally-adapted to slide and. beneath, which the: chain passes around said wheel, and

needeea spring means normally holding the housing in operative relation to said chain and wheel but permitting the housing to yield rearwardly away from the chain, said spring means comprising a coilee contractile spring connected at opposite ends to the frame and to the housing, the arrangement being such that the end of the spring secured to the housing is capahle of swinging from one side to the other of the pivotal connection between the housing and the frame whereby to hold the housing in either operative or inoperative relation to the frame.

3. A machine of the character described having, in combination with a main frame, worlr feeding means including an endless chain and a wheel mounted in the discha end of the frame, the anangement belng such that the upper portion of the chain travels horizontally along the to of the frame and thence downwardly around the wheel and forwardly through the frame, a bracket secured to the frame below said wheel and providing a stop shoulder, a housing movably supported on said bracket and adapted to enclose said wheel and the portion' of the chain passing thereover, said housing having a top plate over which the work is normally adapted to slide as it is moved rearwardly by the chain, and spring meansoperating tohold said housingwith a portion thereof abut-ting against said stop shoulder.

4. A combined guard and safety device for rip-sawing machines and the like com prising a housing substantially arouate in form and having opposite side and rear walls and a rigid top plate adapted to enclose the rear or discharge portion of an endless conveyor operating to discharge work from the machine so as normally to slide over said top plate, said housing being mounted on the machine for movement from a normal operative position away from the conveyor, and spring means operating normally to hold the housing in operative association with the discharge end of the conveyor.

5. A combined guard and safety device for rip-sawing machines and the like comprising a housing adapted to enclose the rear or discharge portion of an endless conveyor operating to discharge work from the machine over the top of the housin said housing. being mounted on the machine for yielding movement from a normal operative position in the direction of movement of the'conveyor'.

In, testimony whereof, l. have hereunto affixed my signature.

, oAnL tmynnnon narr son. 

